Automobile-signal.



M, W. HUSTON.

AUTOMOBILE SSGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1911.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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M. W. HUSTON.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1917.

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MARLO'W W. HUSTON, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented Dec, 24, 1918.

Application filed February 17, 1917. Serial No. 149,317.

To all LU/tO'lit it may concern:

Be it known that T, llhmzow W. Hns'rox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State of Colorado, have invented certain useful Improvements in Automobile- Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to a signal adapted particularly for automobiles, and

has for an obj eat to provide a signal which may be seen at night or in dark places, and

by means of which the movements of the vehicle may be indicated.

It is a further object of the present. in

vention to provide a signal of this character which may be applied to the front and rear comprises but relatively few parts, which is light in weight, and attractive in appearance, and a device which may be economically manufactured.

The above, and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more specifically brought out in the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment of this invention, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile showing the signal of this invention applied to the rear end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged rear elevation of the signal.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal. sectional view taken centrally through the signal.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing the cylinder operating means.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the operating handle.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar numerals of reference throughout the several views, 10 designates the casing of the signal, the body part of which is cylindrical as shown, and

which is provided on its upper side with a hollow extension ll.

The cylinder 10 is provided at one end with a closed wall12, and is provided uponits. opposite end with a preferably removable cap 13. The cap 13 is provided centrally with an inwardly extending boss 1%, providing a fixed bearing upon which is adapted to turn the adjacent end of a cylinder 15, which is fitted into the open end of the casing 10. The opposite end of the cylinder 15 is supported upon a spindle 16, which projects through a partition wall 17, arranged in the opposite end of the casing 10, and is provided beyond the partition wall 17' with a pinion 18. The spindle 16 has a bearing mounted in the'pa'rtition wall 17. to;

permit of the free turning of the cylinder 15.

The wall 17 has rotatab-lymounted against the outer side thereof a gear wheel 19, which is fixed on a shaft 20, about which is coiled. a spring 21, the spring having securement at one end with the shaft 20, The opposite end of the spring is secured to a pin 22, projeeting over the wall 17. which is adapted to which the shaft 20, gear 1.9, and pinion 18 are adapted to be turned. The lever arm 23 is adapted to strike the inner wall of the easing 10 when swung in one direction and tobe held yieldingly thereagainst by the-spring 21, to retain the cylinder 15 yieldingly in a predetermined position.

A cord 24 is attached to the outer end of the lever arm 23 and is passed through an opening 25 in the casing 10. The opposite end of the cord is secured to a laterally extending arm 26, and carried upon the lower end of a turning rod 27, mounted upon or adjacent to the steering column 28 of the motor vehicle.

A segment 29 is fixed to the steering column 28 and may receive the upper end of the turning rod 27 therethrough. An operating lever 30' is fixed to the upper end of the rod and is provided with a spring dog 31, adapted to traverse the periphery of the segment 29. The segment 29 is provided with preferably 4 notches into which the spring dog 31 may engage. The notches may be arranged to hold the lever 30 in position to indicate when the vehicle is running straight ahead, when it is to turn to the right or to the left, or when the vehicle is going to stop. v

The cylinder 15 comprises opposed-heads or ends 32 and 33, and the body of the cylinder is made up of preferably three panels, having their adjacent edges spaced apart to provide light openings 34 extending longitudinally in the sides of the cylin der. Each panel of the cylinder 15 is stamped or cut out to provide stencils through which light is adapted to project, and which are of such form as to be readable and indicate when the vehicle is going to turn to the right, left or to stop. The stencils may be in the form of letters setting forth these words, or may be provided with any other means which will indicate the movements of the vehicle.

The boss 14- of the cap 13 is provided with an electric light socket 35, adapted to support the usual bulb 36, which may be used as the luminous element contained within the cylinder 15. The casing 10 is provided in its top wall with a longitudinal slot 37 which opens upwardly into the projection 11 through which light is adapted to be projected.

The rear side of the projection 11 is closed in by a transparent panel 38, upon which may be painted or otherwise formed the license number and other data pertaining thereto. The rear side of the casing is also provided with a longitudinally extending slot 39, adapted to be closed by a transparent panel 40, formed of red glass or the like, to indicate danger at the rear of the vehicle, or may be provided with a transparent panel of any other color suitable for the positioningvof the signal. This slot 39 is arranged to register with the panels of the cylinder 15 so that the wording on the panels may be read from the rear of the casing 10.

In operation, the spring 21 is adaptedto turn the cylinder 15 into such position that. one of the spaces 34 between the panels of the cylinder registers with the rear slot 29' of the casing. Thus, a clear red light will be projected from the rear of the signal. At the same time, the light is projected upwardly through the slot 37 into the projection 11, and the transparent panel 38 is continuously illuminated.

The core 24: is so adjusted and secured to the arm 26 that when the cylinder is in the neutral position above described, the arm '23 bears against the inner wall of the casing 10, and the spring 21 is held under least tension.

When it is desired however to stop or turn the vehicle, it is only necessary for the operator to first grasp the lever 30 and swing it over the segment 39 until the dog 31 engages in the notch corresponding to the de-- sired indicating position. This movement of the lever 30 swings the arm 26 and draws the cord 24 to, and swings the lever arm 23 away from the wall of the casing. As the lever arm 23 is turned it rotates the gear 19, and pinion 18, and turns the cylinder to the desired extent, according to the pull on the cord. This adjustment of the cylinder places the spring 21 under greater tension, and as soon as the operating lever 30 is moved back to its neutral position, and the cord relaxed, the cylinder is immediately rotated to its blank or neutral position.

It is readily understood that the device may also be applied to the forward end of the vehicle, and that the operating means may be so modified as to admit of the simultaneous operation of both the forward and rear signals so as to indicate the desired. movements of the vehicle.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of this signal, as above specifically described, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and being limited only'by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

An automobile signal comprising a cylindrical casing, a cylinder mounted for rotation in the casing and having indicia on the cylindrical sides thereof so that certain direc'tions may be indicated thereby, the easing being provided with a longitudinal slot and with a transparent panel closing the side slot, an illuminating medium carried within the casing and within the cylinder so that the indicia on the latter may be made visible through the transparent panel, a shaft journaled in one wall of the casing, a second shaft also journaled in the same wall of the casing but fixedly connected to one end of the cylinder, gear connections between the two shafts, coiled spring having one end fixed to the first said shaft and the remaining end secured with reference to the casing an arcuate arm secured to the first said shaft and designed to abut the cylindrical wall of the casing when in one position, and a cable attached to the outer end of the arm, whereby longitudinal movement imparted to the cable may effect angular movement of the two said shafts so as to bring certain indicia. of the cylinder before the transparent panel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MARLOW W. HUSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

